Holds

• President Trump threatened to impose heavy tariffs on Europe after the region granted observer status to Canada. • Trump stated that the war in Ukraine is the toughest conflict to end and is the primary factor driving up diesel prices. • These trade threats create immediate economic uncertainty for European markets and potential price volatility for energy consumers.

Policymakers keep steady course as jobs market comes under strain and Iran war pushes up energy costsBusiness live – latest updatesThe Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold despite growing concern over inflation as the Iran war pushes households into a fresh cost of living crisis.Against a volatile backdrop in global markets as the fighting in the Middle East intensifies, the Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) voted to keep its key base rate at 3.75%. Continue reading...

Labour has also increased fundraising from members in response to Reform’s £72m donations from crypto billionairesLabour has hosted major party donors at No 10 for a drinks reception, as the party comes under growing pressure from MPs and unions to consider a donations cap.The Guardian understands that high-level donors, including business leaders and philanthropists, were hosted by cabinet ministers in Downing Street for an evening reception on Tuesday. Donors from the party’s Rose Network give thousands of pounds a year to the party. Continue reading...

• The Euro is trading near a one-month low against the US Dollar on Tuesday as rising US Treasury yields strengthen the greenback. • Market participants expect the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates to a range of 3.75%-4.00% during its policy announcement on Wednesday. • This anticipated rate hike is weighing on risk assets, causing Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market to correct.

• A predominantly Muslim region in the southern Philippines held its first elections for a regional parliament to move closer to self-rule. • The vote follows decades of insurgency and violence that resulted in the deaths of approximately 150,000 combatants and civilians since the 1970s. • This political transition aims to bring stability and growth to the country's poorest region where development has been stunted for years.

• Voters in an autonomous region of the southern Philippines will cast their ballots this Monday in the area's first parliamentary elections. • These elections serve as a primary step toward self-determination following decades of insurgency and violence in the region. • The outcome determines the local governance structure for a population seeking lasting peace and political autonomy from the central government.

Many are rooting for vocal critic Catherine Connolly to let rip in Dublin meeting, but others hope she holds backIreland’s president, Catherine Connolly, has called Donald Trump abhorrent and an abuser of power. In his sole previous comment on Connolly, the US president seemed to think she was a man. Now that they are about to meet, Ireland is holding its breath.Trump is to fly into Dublin on Saturday morning for a two-day visit centred on golf but, before making it to his beloved greens, protocol obliges him to meet a woman who has given every impression of loathing him. Continue reading...

• European natural gas prices are holding near multi-year peaks due to ongoing supply risks. • Market volatility coincides with an upcoming interest rate decision from the European Central Bank. • High energy costs increase operational expenses for European industries and affect consumer pricing.

• European natural gas prices remained near multi-year peaks recently due to ongoing supply risks. • Market volatility persists as investors await a policy decision from the European Central Bank. • Sustained high energy costs increase operational expenses for European industries and impact consumer pricing.

• Asian stocks declined on Thursday, September 10, as investors reacted to escalating shipping attacks in the Middle East. • Brent crude oil prices remained above $100 a barrel following the largest wave of attacks on shipping in the region. • High energy costs and bond yields near 2023 peaks create market volatility for investors awaiting upcoming U.S. economic data.

• Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,595.16 points at the end of August 2026, marking a 26.6 percent gain since the end of 2025. • Listed companies reported a 22.2 percent year-on-year increase in net profit for the first six months of 2026. • Middle East tensions pushed crude oil prices near 90 USD per barrel, creating market pressure that led to a 1.8 percent dip in the index from July.

• The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party celebrated a strong performance in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections, though they failed to secure a majority in the parliament. • Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani described the result as "terrible news" because the AfD represents a political force opposite to liberal and western values. • The outcome creates political uncertainty in Germany and signals a broader shift as several European nations prepare for key parliamentary and presidential races through 2027.

• European stock markets have dropped to one-month lows as investors react to a significant surge in global bond yields. • The decline is driven by a "yield surge squeeze," where rising interest rates typically reduce the attractiveness of equities compared to fixed-income assets. • This trend highlights the ongoing sensitivity of global markets to monetary policy shifts and inflationary pressures affecting borrowing costs.

Foreign policy chief says drone attack last month ‘had all the hallmarks of state sponsored terrorism’ as she prepares to lead talks todaySeparately, German police are also investigating another attempt to disrupt the country’s energy grid, this time at a electricity substation in Bergheim in the west of the country.A local police spokesperson said they are “not assuming a technical failure but a deliberate act,” without revealing more details. The region’s power supply was not affected. Continue reading...

• The EUR/USD pair maintained modest gains on Monday as the US Dollar failed to build on strength gained from hawkish remarks by Fed Chair Kevin Warsh at the Jackson Hole Symposium. • Despite current Euro gains, the US Dollar remains supported by elevated Treasury yields, geopolitical tensions, and expectations of a hawkish Federal Reserve. • Market focus has shifted toward upcoming US economic data, specifically the Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report scheduled for Friday.

ICE spokesperson says Loreto Javar failed to disclose criminal conviction in Philippines when he applied for visaA 76-year-old man holding permanent US residency and grappling with stage four prostate cancer is reportedly being held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention in Tacoma, Washington.Federal immigration officials detained Loreto Javar during his US citizenship interview in Tukwila, Washington, in June. Javar, a Filipino national, moved to the US in 1995 and has lived in the country with his wife and daughter ever since. Continue reading...

Moving tariffs will cushion the blow from the October price cap rise and the increase widely predicted for JanuaryWith higher energy bills looming and warnings of worse to come in the new year, many households could save up to £173 a year by switching to a fixed deal.Millions of households in Great Britain will face the highest energy charges in three years after it was announced that the government’s price cap will rise again in October. This will be the second increase in three months. Continue reading...

A plug-in solar kit that costs about $1,000 ‘pays for itself in three years’, one expert saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMillions of Australians could be saving up to $370 a year on energy bills and doing their bit for the climate crisis if Labor followed the UK’s lead in legalising plug-in solar panels, an advocacy group has said.Plug-in solar refers to small standalone solar units that could be attached to balconies or used in back yards and plugged into power points, offsetting the energy used by household appliances. Continue reading...

• Thailand’s central bank maintained its policy interest rate at 1.00% on Wednesday, a move widely anticipated by economists. • The decision comes as strong investment and technology-related exports provide economic support, offsetting weak household spending and limited lending to small businesses. • This stability reflects a balancing act by the central bank to sustain growth while addressing sluggish domestic demand.

• Apple (AAPL) stock is trading flat at $308.84, experiencing a slight decline of 0.53% during the current session. • Technical analysis indicates that the stock has found a critical support level at $302.29, preventing a deeper price drop. • Investors are closely monitoring the stock's price action alongside emerging news regarding iPhone pricing strategies in India.

• British American Tobacco shares are currently trading at GBX4,166, reflecting a 0.67% decrease as the stock holds near a support level of GBX4,139. • The company has recently conducted a share buyback program, which has effectively reduced the stock's free float and contributed to mixed technical signals. • This development is significant as the stock has been experiencing short-term consolidation and volatility, leaving traders uncertain about its immediate momentum.

After higher prices for winter kick in, energy debt unpaid for more than 30 days likely to rise, says Energy UKHouseholds in Great Britain could owe their energy suppliers as much as £7bn by the end of the year after higher gas and electricity prices forecast for the winter kick in, an industry group is warning.Domestic energy debt and arrears climbed by about £500m over the past year to a record £6bn at the end of June as the Middle East conflict continued to stoke rising gas market prices. Continue reading...

• The EUR/USD currency pair remained strong for a fourth consecutive trading day, hovering around 1.1680 during Asian trading hours on Monday. • The Euro's stability is driven by a weakening US Dollar, which is currently under pressure following the announcement of new US fiscal strategies. • Market focus is shifting toward critical economic data from Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, which collectively represent 75% of the Eurozone's economy.

• Swiss runner Audrey Werro won the European 800m gold medal with a championship-best time of 1:54.81, narrowly defeating Britain's Keely Hodgkinson (1:55.01). • Other major victories included Italy's Nadia Battocletti, who secured the 10,000m title to complement her 5,000m crown, and Norway's Karsten Warholm, who set a championship record of 46.63 in the men's 400m hurdles. • These results highlight a dominant night for top European athletes, with multiple championship records broken across different disciplines.

• U.S. stock markets remained near record highs on Friday despite a surprisingly weak economic report regarding consumer spending. • The S&P 500 rose 0.1% following its record-setting performance the previous day, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.2% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 136 points. • Treasury yields held steady as investors reacted to data showing that U.S. shoppers spent less than anticipated.

• Asian stock markets, including South Korea's Kospi Index, rose following a positive trend in US technology shares and easing inflation data. • The surge was driven by a larger-than-expected drop in US wholesale inflation and declining crude oil prices, which reduced fears of aggressive interest rate hikes. • These economic shifts impacted US Treasury yields, though Federal Reserve officials remain divided on the specific strategies for future interest rate adjustments.

• Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has announced delays to a pioneering government bill that would legislate a right for employees to work from home two days a week. • The legislation, described as a "nation-first" initiative, will now be postponed and will not take effect until after the upcoming election. • This move impacts the timeline for establishing formal remote work entitlements for Victorian workers, shifting the focus toward the electoral cycle.